British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of approach shafts leading to the site... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey said. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
